In their UFC returns it was clear from the beginning Josh Neer had quite a bit more to offer than Keith Wisniewski.
Wisniewski's striking did not look up to par as his looks appeared more to slap than punch. While he was able to land some decent body shots and even some knees in the clinch, his minimal wrestling attempts were thwarted with relative ease by Neer.
More importantly, Neer was ultimately able to win the clinch battle not simply with elbows that cut, but badly wobbled Wisniewski. While Neer was aiming for a jab to hook combo that nearly missed on the latter half, it ended up no matter. Wisniewski wanted the fight in close and paid for that decision as well.
A nice return for Neer and at 28 can maybe rack up a few wins in the UFC. I suspect his upside is limited and he's shopworn at this point, but he could provide a decent test for up and coming prospects in the very deep lightweight division. Neer is durable, well-rounded enough and makes for an adequate test against prospects who look to greater heights.
Here's our live blog of the end of the action:
Round 2 Neer coming forward, landing jabs. Wisniewski already bleeding. Wisniewski forcing a clinch and Neer landing beautiful standing elbows. They separate, then Wisniewski clinches and Neer with more elbows. Wisniewski punching to the body. Neer with more elbows. Wisniewski answers with a hard elbow of his own. Neer sprinking uppercuts and hooks into the mix. Wisniewski countering. Neer with uppercuts. Wisniewski knees the body, punches the body. Wisniewski bleeding badly. The referee stops it for a mouth piece and the doctor checks out Wisniewski. Neer's mouthpiece is trapped in the cracks between the cage and the mat. The crew finds the mouthpiece under the cage. Wisniewski pushes forward looking for a single leg take down. Neer escapes and lands more elbows. Wisniewski with a knee and uppercut elbow. Neer really using elbows well. They separate and Neer landing jabs. Wisniewski forces a clinch. They trade knees. Neer with another elbow, then several jabs as Wisniewski backs away. Wisnewski ducks for a take down and Neer goes for a standing guillotine. The blood is pouring from Wisniewski's head! The bell rings. MMA Nation scores it 10-9 for Josh Neer.
The doctors stop the fight between rounds due to the cut above Wisniewski's eye.
UFC Live 6 Results: Josh Neer defeats Keith Wisniewski by TKO (doctor stoppage) at 5:00 of round 2.